ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani, dealing with a troublesome finger during his last three trips to the pitcher's mound, is still on track to make his next scheduled start Friday vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin said prior to Monday's series opener against the New York Yankees.
Ohtani first pitched through a cracked nail in his right middle finger on June 27, which also developed into a blister when he took the mound in San Diego on July 4. The additional rest afforded by the All-Star break didn't completely solve the issue; Ohtani was still nursing the cracked fingernail and nearby blister while being charged with five runs (four earned) and recording only 15 outs against the Houston Astros on Friday.